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    • Tuesday, Nov 26, 2024

    Renown Urgent Care Physicians Serve Up Care for Overworked Chefs This Holiday Season

    Renown Urgent Care providers see patients 365 days a year — including Thanksgiving Day — and offer both book-ahead appointment scheduling and walk-in availability.   Cooking up a holiday feast? Renown Urgent Cares are here for you when things get a little too hot in the kitchen. From minor burns to accidental knife slips—and even a case of “too much turkey exhaustion”—our team is ready to help.   “This time of year, we see plenty of culinary mishaps,” said Rahul Mediwala, MD, MBA, CEO of Renown Medical Group. “Whether it’s a chef who got a little too close to the oven, someone who got a bit ambitious with the carving knife, a moderate food allergy reaction or a holiday host with the flu, we’re here to help you get back to the table.” Top Chef-Related Visits Treated at all 10 Renown Urgent Cares: Burns: Ovens, stoves, and hot pans are common culprits. Open stove tops can pose serious burn risks, especially with holiday guests who may place their hands and other items on the stove, unaware that the stove top is hot. Ensure towels, oven mitts and packaging are far from open flames and hot burners. When handling the hot turkey, remember to use oven mitts and take your time! Cuts: Those carving knives can be sharp—keep a steady hand and watch those fingers. Fevers, coughs, sore throats, colds and flu/COVID: The holidays are a time for togetherness, but sometimes people share their coughs and colds. Wash your hands frequently, especially before meals and after coughing or sneezing. If someone is feeling under the weather, give them space to recover. Food Allergies: Ask guests ahead of time about any food allergies or dietary restrictions before planning your menu. Clearly label dishes with common allergens such as nuts, dairy, shellfish or gluten. Use separate utensils and cookware to prevent cross-contact for allergen-free dishes. If a guest has a severe allergy, ensure they have their EpiPen nearby and know how to use it. Exhaustion: Long hours in the kitchen can take a toll. Stay hydrated, take breaks, and don’t forget to enjoy the holiday too! Renown Urgent Cares provide fast, expert care for these common holiday injuries and more. Open seven days a week, 365 days a year, including Thanksgiving Day, we offer both book-ahead appointment scheduling on the MyChart app, renown.org website or walk-in availability. We’re here to make sure your holiday memories don’t include an extended trip to the kitchen—or the couch.   All locations can treat conditions that require quick but non-emergent care, including: Cuts and lacerations, including those needing sutures Sprains and closed fractures Ear pain, infections, wax buildup and hearing issues Burns Fevers, coughs, sore throats, cold and flu/COVID Urinary tract infections Allergic reactions (911 for severe symptoms, visit Urgent Care for mild to moderate reactions) Animal bites Pinkeye Rashes                                                                                                                     All ten Renown Urgent Care locations from Reno to Sparks, Fernley to Fallon or Carson City, will be open on Thanksgiving. People are encouraged to learn more and make an appointment at renown.org/UrgentCare.   “Thanksgiving and the holidays are about spending time with loved ones, not worrying about injuries,” added Keri Piper Colonna, MS, RN, Administrative Director, Renown Urgent Care. “So, whether you need a quick stitch or just some tips to avoid overdoing it, we’ve got your back—because even the best chefs need a little help sometimes.” About Renown Health Renown Health is Nevada’s largest, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,500 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently enrolling participants in a community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. To join the Renown Health team, visit renown.org/careers.

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    • Fitness
    • Urgent Care

    Emergency Hiking Kit Essentials

    With the help of Aaron Bertalmio, MD of Renown Urgent Care, we're sharing nine essential must-have items for your hiking emergency kit. 9 Essential Items For Your Hiking Emergency Kit With more than 300 days of sunshine in Reno-Tahoe and plenty of trails to explore, you'll want to keep these essential items in your kit. 1. Water Surprisingly, this no-brainer, however, is often overlooked. Bring enough water to last for the entire adventure. This amount of water can be heavy depending on the distance, altitude or intensity. With this in mind, the next best bet is to filter or purify water from a lake or stream. Here's how: You can do this with iodine or chlorine dioxide tablets, charcoal or an ultraviolet light wand. Tip: Look for water that is moving or rushing over rocks. Having enough water or filtration cannot be underestimated. "If you become injured and need to wait for help, you can only last about three days without water," Dr. Bertalmio says. 2. Food Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs) or dehydrated food pouches are essential, ensuring you have plenty to eat if you're outdoors longer than expected. 3. Maps Bring a printed map, compass or GPS. You can't always rely on your smartphone, so this is the perfect backup plan. 4. First-Aid Supplies Your hiking first-aid kit should change based on the type of hiking. As a basic rule, keep the following items in your pack: Fever/pain reliever Sewing kit with safety pins Tweezers Bandages and moleskin Antibiotic ointment Duct or medical tape Whistle 5. Light Source Wear or pack a small headlamp to illuminate the way if you get caught outside after sunset or in a poorly lit area. Headlamps are also great in emergencies because they are hands-free. 6. Emergency Shelter Even if you're only going out for the day, pack a low-weight emergency blanket for the trip. In other words, if the day trip turns into an overnight adventure, the blanket will keep you warm and alive in the event of cold temperatures. 7. Fire Starter Pack small tools in your hiking emergency kit to ensure an easy fire start. Waterproof matches, a knife, a lighter, or a strike fire starter are great options. Tip: Bring a multi-tool, including a knife and scissors that can be used for first-aid. 8. Layers of Clothing Mother Nature likes to change her mind in northern Nevada, and temperatures vary significantly within 24 hours. Therefore, pack a compact, lightweight waterproof and windproof jacket. This will protect you from being uncomfortably chilly and experiencing hypothermia. "Hypothermia is when your body temperature drops to a dangerously low level. You want to avoid this completely by keeping body temperature regulated outdoors and avoiding cold water immersion," says Dr. Bertalmio. 9. Sun Protection Certainly, sun protection should be part of your daily routine and an essential in your hiking emergency kit. You'll want to bring enough sunblock to reapply in direct sunlight and layers to cover exposed skin every two hours. Dr. Bertalmio reminds everyone the sun is intense in northern Nevada. "The higher altitude means an increased risk of sun-induced skin damage," he explains. "Some trails can reach above 10,000 feet, and at that altitude, UV radiation could be 35 to 45 percent more intense than at sea level."

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    • Friday, Jul 16, 2021

    Got a Cough, Runny Nose, Sore Throat and Fever? It Might Be RSV Virus

    Renown Urgent Care team prepares you to stay alert and safe this season and is available for medical assistance, 7 days a week at 11 locations across northern Nevada. In June, staffers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a Health Advisory requesting that clinicians and caregivers watch for the respiratory syncytial virus, usually known as RSV, an infection that puts thousands of toddlers and senior citizens in the hospital each year with pneumonia and deep lung inflammation. According to the CDC, RSV results in roughly 58,000 hospitalizations and 100 to 500 deaths each year among children under five as well as 177,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths among adults 65 and above. RSV was cropping up in 13 southern and southeastern states, the agency warned, and clinicians should test for the virus if kids showed up sneezing, wheezing, or with poor appetites and inflamed throats. Usually a winter infection, RSV is usually gone by June. Instead, this year, it is spreading—and has since continued to spread across the country, and to northern Nevada. “We know that many of the good hygiene habits we developed to defend against COVID-19 disrupted the viral landscape over the past 16 months, suppressing infections from almost every pathogen. Now RSV’s out-of-season return tells us that we need to continue to be on the alert,” says Robert Thole, MD, a physician with Renown Urgent Care. “We are surprised to be seeing so many kids with RSV right now.” “We ask parents and caregivers to keep a watchful eye out for a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Symptoms are usually mild and resemble those of the common cold. RSV infection sometimes leads to bronchiolitis, pneumonia, or both. Symptoms of these complications include; difficulty breathing; wheezing; coughing that is getting worse; lethargy, increased tiredness, decreased interest in surroundings, or loss of interest in food,” explains Dr. Thole, who is board certified in family medicine. Catching and spreading the virus People with RSV infection may spread the virus through their secretions (saliva or mucus) when they cough, sneeze, or talk. You can catch the virus by: Touching an object or surface contaminated with the virus and then touching your nose, eyes, or mouth without first washing your hands. The virus can survive for more than 6 hours on countertops and other hard surfaces, such as doorknobs, and for 30 minutes on hands, clothing, or tissue. Close contact. If an infected person coughs or sneezes near you, you could breathe in RSV that is in his or her saliva or mucus. The virus spreads easily in crowded settings, such as childcare facilities, preschools, and nursing homes. Children attending school often spread the virus to their parents and siblings. The incubation period—the time from exposure to RSV until you have symptoms—ranges from two to 8 days but usually is 4 to 6 days. People are most likely to spread the virus within the first several days after symptoms of RSV infection begin and remain contagious for up to 8 days. Babies and young children may spread the virus for at least 3 to 4 weeks. Most children and adults feel better after a week or two. Treatment For an otherwise healthy child who has symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, such as a cough or runny nose, home treatment usually is all that is needed. It is important to watch for signs of complications, such as dehydration. Watchful waiting may not be a good choice when your child with an upper respiratory infection has an increased risk for complications. Watch your child closely if there are symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. If symptoms get worse or new symptoms develop, see a doctor right away. There is no vaccine and few specific treatments aside from supportive care, such as administering pain relievers and fluids. In the most severe cases, some children or adults might need additional oxygen. Not just in kids, older adults at risk Dr. Thole explains, “RSC is not only seen in children. Adults older than 65 have an increased risk of complications following infection with RSV. Pneumonia is a particular risk, especially if other health problems exist, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure. It may take older adults longer to recover from RSV infection and its complications than people in other age groups.” Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if: Your child has severe trouble breathing. Your child's breathing has stopped. Start rescue breathing. Call your doctor now if your baby or child has moderate trouble breathing. Call a doctor if your child: Breathes slightly faster than normal and seems to be getting worse. Most healthy children breathe less than 40 times a minute. Has cold symptoms that become severe. Has shallow coughing, which continues throughout the day and night. Has a poor appetite or is being less active than usual. Has any trouble breathing. Hospitalization Doctors sometimes give a monoclonal antibody treatment to high-risk babies throughout the respiratory season to prevent them from catching the virus or developing a severe infection. Some hospitals have started to increase use of the prophylaxis in response to the recent uptick in RSV cases. “Those kids were being protected,” said Kristina Deeter, MD who was quoted in a July 1st Wall St. Journal article on this topic. Dr. Deeter is a pediatric intensivist and medical director at Renown Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care and Hospitalist Medicine. Dr. Deeter, who also oversees Pediatrix Medical Group’s critical-care team in dozens of pediatric intensive care units across the country, said hospitals are also considering taking additional precautions in the neonatal intensive-care unit similar to some wintertime protocols. At Renown Children’s Hospital, there were no children hospitalized with RSV throughout the winter season, Dr. Deeter said, when there are normally hundreds of cases in our county- many of which do not need to be hospitalized.” A total of 31 cases have been reported in Washoe County, Nev., since April, and 26 of those occurred within the past three weeks. Preventing infection To prevent infection, or at least to mitigate them, wear masks, stay home when sick, and washing hands could make a difference in how the next viral season unfolds. For more information on RSV, visit renown.org. Renown Urgent Care Renown Urgent Care is available for medical assistance, 7 days a week at 11 locations across northern Nevada providing treatment for a wide range of minor injuries, illnesses and medical concerns that are urgent but not life-threatening. If you require same-day medical attention, you can avoid the long wait times and high prices of the emergency room at 13 convenient sites, including Reno, Sparks, Carson City, USA Parkway, Fallon and Fernley. You can walk-in or book ahead online. About Renown Health Renown Health is a locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. Renown is one of the region’s largest private employers with a workforce of more than 7,000. It comprises three acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, the area’s most comprehensive medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest and only locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown has a long tradition and commitment to improve the care and the health of our community. For more information, visit renown.org.

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    • Urgent Care
    • Prevention and Wellness

    Avoid Viruses, Colds and the Flu With Expert Hand-Washing Advice

    Can you really avoid colds, flu and viruses with simple hand-washing? Amy McCombs, Renown’s director of Infection Prevention, shares how to stay healthy with this very simple practice. Shaking hands, turning doorknobs, drafting emails — all regular activities of everyday life. But whenever you touch another person, or touch an object another person has touched, you’re collecting their germs on your hands. And touching your own mouth, eyes or nose also exposes you to whatever germs you’ve collected. That makes hand-washing the most important step you can take to prevent illness and disease. And while that may seem like an obvious reminder, studies have found that 85 percent of people do not practice proper hand hygiene. We asked Amy McCombs, Renown’s director of Infection Prevention, to give us some hand-washing tips for a safer, healthier life. So what are the correct hand-washing steps? Wash for at least 20 seconds. The biggest thing to remember is to wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. A good rule to make sure you’re washing long enough is to sing “Happy Birthday” twice through. Get a good lather of soap going. It’s also important to get a nice lather of soap and make sure you wash between your finger, both the tops and palms of your hands and your nail beds. And if you wear jewelry, you need to remove it or make sure you get lather and friction underneath. Then rinse completely and dry. Is there a wrong way to wash your hands, or is it more about making sure you do it the right way? Honestly, it’s a little bit of both. There is a wrong way since 85 percent of us don’t wash correctly. This could be for a variety of reasons. It could be because you don’t wash long enough, don’t get in between your fingers, don’t clean your palms or don’t clean the tops of your hands. How frequently should we wash our hands? Are there certain times where it is more important than others? As most of us are taught as kids, you need to wash your hands before you eat or prepare foods, after you touch raw produce and meat and after you use the restroom. You should also wash your hands after sneezing or coughing, touching your eyes, nose and mouth or coming in contact with someone who is sick. Do you recommend hand-washing over hand sanitizer? Ideally, you should wash your hands instead of using hand sanitizer, but if sanitizer is all you have, then use it. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are best. Use about a nickel or quarter size and vigorously rub the tops of your hands, palms and in between your fingers until the sanitizer is completely dry. Remember that if your hands are physically dirty, or if you’ve come in contact with bodily fluids, you should thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water instead of hand sanitizer. Does washing your hands really prevent illnesses like the cold, the flu and viruses? Definitely. The CDC recommends hand-washing as one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness. Hand-washing has been shown to reduce the number of people who get colds and respiratory illnesses by 21 percent. What else can I do to keep my family healthy? The annual flu vaccine is truly the best form of protection to help prevent the spread of the flu. Even if you do get the flu after being vaccinated, your symptoms will be lessened. Although they are not substitutes for the flu vaccine, simple preventative action can do a lot to help slow the spread of the virus, including these: Wash your hands often Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands Avoid contact with people who are sick Stay home when you are sick Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve Other precautionary measures include cleaning shared spaces and avoiding shared utensils and drinks. Flu vaccines are still available in the community, including health providers at Renown Medical Group. Call 775-982-5000 to make an appointment. More Hand-Washing Information One of the best things you can do to avoid viruses, colds and the flu is to wash your hands. Protect yourself with even more hand-washing advice from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Roll Up Your Sleeves and Scrub Up!

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    • Prevention and Wellness
    • Respiratory
    • Urgent Care

    Your Ultimate Cold and Flu Survival Guide

    While viruses can attack year-round, colds, flus and other respiratory illnesses are typically more prevalent during fall and winter. People spend more time indoors, which allows viruses to pass more easily from one person to another. The cold, dry air can also affect the respiratory system, making it more susceptible to germs. According to the CDC, flu activity in the U.S. often begins to increase in October and peaks between December and February. “Flu season” can last as late as May.  When it comes to the cold and flu, prevention and preparation are key. Getting the flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine is the first and most crucial step in protecting against these two respiratory illnesses. Preventative actions, such as washing your hands, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and getting enough sleep can also help you avoid getting sick. However, despite your best prevention efforts, the time may come this winter when you start to feel a little scratch in your throat or a fever coming on. By taking steps ahead of time to assemble a cold and flu survival kit, you’ll be more prepared for whenever illness strikes, allowing you to stay home, rest and avoid spreading germs.  Tips for Managing Symptoms Keep these tips in mind to ease your cold or flu symptoms: Stay home and rest Drink plenty of fluids Treat aches and fever with over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen Manage a cough with over-the-counter expectorants or suppressants  Run a humidifier or sit in a steamy bathroom to ease congestion What to Stock in Your Flu Survival Kit Be ready when a cold or the flu strikes by having a flu survival kit filled with these get-well essentials stocked in your pantry, fridge and medicine cabinet: Over-the-Counter Medications: Take advantage of over-the-counter medications to make yourself feel better and ease most common flu symptoms of fever, headache, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, and runny or stuffy nose Pain relievers - Ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol): for fever and aches Decongestants: for sniffles and congestion Cough expectorant (guaifenesin): for a “wet” cough to help clear secretions from the lungs Cough suppressant (dextromethorphan/DM): for a severe “dry” cough to block the cough reflex Cough syrups and drops Drinks: Water Herbal tea Low-sugar sports drinks Pedialyte Foods: Chicken soup Broth Vitamin C-containing fruits and vegetables Oatmeal Toast (add some avocado, honey or egg) Miscellaneous items: Tissues Lozenges Protective mask Thermometer Humidifier When to Seek Care and Where to Go Most healthy adults who have a cold, the flu, or other mild respiratory illnesses don’t need to see a care provider and will recover at home with self-care measures. Because these are viral illnesses, antibiotics won’t work against treating them. Your care provider may be able to prescribe an antiviral medication that can relieve your symptoms and shorten the duration and severity of your illness; however, this needs to be started within 48 hours of symptom onset and is often only prescribed to individuals at high risk for developing complications from the flu or those experience severe symptoms. Primary Care or Urgent Care Contact your primary care provider or visit an Urgent Care if you are at an increased risk, including those who: Are 65 years of age or older Have chronic medical conditions Are pregnant or recently gave birth Have a weakened immune system Find a primary care provider If you are otherwise healthy and not at increased risk of complications, seek medical advice if your flu symptoms are unusually severe, such as mild difficulty breathing, a severe sore throat, coughing that produces a lot of green or yellow mucus, or feeling faint. Emergency Care Go to the Emergency Department if you are experiencing emergency warning signs such as severe pain (chest, abdomen), concern for heart attack or stroke (slurred speech, new localized weakness), severe dehydration (needing IV fluids) or severe shortness of breath.

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